Legislative notebook: Cargil says boring SBOE meetings 'wonderful'

State Board of Education Chairman Barbara Cargill acknowledged Monday that the board used to be "like a circus act" that she has tried to tame since taking the helm in 2011.

"The press actually gets bored at our meetings now, which is wonderful," Cargill told the Senate Nominations Committee during her confirmation hearing.

Sen. Kirk Watson, the lone Democrat on the committee, asked Cargill about a 2009 email she sent asking an applicant for a curriculum-writing committee whether the person was a conservative.

Cargill, R-The Woodlands, said she was trying to vet the applicant for expertise and issues important to her constituents. Pushed by Watson, Cargill said she no longer asks that question.

Cargill emphatically said she does not support teaching creationism or intelligent design in public schools, saying that can be taught at home or in church.

On the subject of standardized testing, Cargill said she would like to see the number of exams addressed, though the State Board has no authority on the issue.

The committee is expected to vote on Cargill's nomination Tuesday.

Secretary of State John Steen's nomination also is before the nominations committee. Steen, during his appearance, took a shot at former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners over the wrongful purging of dead voters from the rolls. Steen said Sumners sent the presumed-dead voters an "inartfully" written letter that did not follow the state's prototype.

Bill would let districts train students on guns

State Rep. James White has filed a bill that would allow school districts to offer an elective course on gun training and safety and the "importance of the Second Amendment."

The Republican and former teacher from Woodville filed HB 1142 Friday, which aims to offer schools guidance on how to provide gun training for students. The course would feature "training in the use of firearms, including the safe use of common firearms such as pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns." The bill, labeled "A common-sense approach" on White's website, specifies the purpose of the course is to "teach the history and importance of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and to teach respect for and proper use of firearms."

"This is not about indoctrination, it is about education," White said. "The best way to strengthen the Constitution and the Second Amendment in particular is by giving it some prominence in our statewide curriculum."

The bill requires the course be taught by a certified concealed handgun license instructor or a peace officer and calls for lessons on hunter's safety and firearm cleaning and maintenance.

He stressed that offering the course would be up to local school boards and an elective for students. If the bill passes, it will advance to the Texas Education Agency and the State Board of Education for oversight and approval, he said.

Medicaid payment bill moves on

State lawmakers on Monday took the first step to funding billions in Medicaid payments that they put off two years ago.

The House Appropriations Committee voted unanimously on an emergency supplemental spending bill that includes $4.5 billion for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. As committee chairman Jim Pitts told his colleagues bluntly, the bill ensures doctors, hospitals and nursing homes will get paid.

The bill, which covers spending through August, came as no surprise as lawmakers chose in 2011 not to fully fund Medicaid. Still, Pitts, R-Waxahachie, expressed relief that his fellow committee members passed the measure without debate and within minutes.

"I would have slept better last night if I knew we were going to do that," Pitts said after the vote.

The bill next will go to the full House and Gov. Ricky Perry will have to sign off in March. Another emergency spending bill is expected, and the House Democratic Caucus has said it would try to restore some of the public education cuts from 2011 in the supplemental measures.

Reporters Ericka Mellon and Kolten Parker contributed to this notebook.